Turkish Airlines Will Resume Istanbul-Sulaimani Flights
The carrier is set to restart its route between the cities on October 2 following a long-standing airspace ban.
Updated on Oct. 1, 2026 in Middle East
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Turkish Airlines will resume direct flights between Istanbul and Sulaimani on October 2, 2026. The move follows the lifting of a Turkish airspace ban in October 2025 and a subsequent closure of Iraqi airspace in February 2026.
Why it matters
The restoration of this route signals a return to connectivity for Sulaimani after years of regional airspace closures driven by security tensions. This resumption offers travelers more options in a market previously serviced only by limited alternatives.
Turkish Airlines will launch with four weekly round-trip flights to Sulaimani, while Iraqi Airways maintains two weekly trips on the route. Service is scheduled to scale up to daily frequency starting December 14.
The players
Turkish Airlines
This national flag carrier operates the major route connecting Istanbul to international destinations.
Iraqi Airways
This airline serves as the national carrier of Iraq and maintained limited service during the suspension.
Pegasus Airlines
This low-cost carrier provides alternative air transportation options within the region.
AJet
This airline subsidiary acts as a secondary service provider for regional flights.
The details
The resumption follows an extended period of suspension that began when Turkey first closed its airspace to Sulaimani in April 2023. During recent interruptions, travelers relied on alternative providers including Iraqi Airways, Pegasus Airlines, and AJet.
Timeline
April 2023: Turkey implemented an initial airspace closure to Sulaimani.
October 2025: Turkey officially lifted the ban on flights to Sulaimani.
February 2026: Iraqi airspace closed temporarily due to regional military tensions.
October 2, 2026: Turkish Airlines resumes direct flight operations.
December 14, 2026: Flight service expands to a daily frequency.
Travel Outlook
The return of this route reflects a broader stabilization in regional travel corridors following the 2023 Turkish airspace ban on Sulaimani. It signals a shift from restricted, emergency-only flight patterns back toward normalized, high-frequency commercial connectivity.
Travelers should expect increased schedule flexibility as the route transitions from four weekly flights to daily service in mid-December. Passengers currently relying on alternative carriers may soon find more convenient direct connections via Istanbul.
The takeaway
This flight restoration highlights how quickly geopolitical shifts can redefine travel availability across major international transit hubs. Travelers should monitor airline schedules closely to take advantage of the expanded flight frequency coming in late 2026.
What happens next
Flight frequency is scheduled to expand to a daily service for the Istanbul-Sulaimani route starting on December 14, 2026.
Further reading
For more context on regional flight trends, visit the Middle East section.
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